U.S. patent number 10,017,161 [Application Number 14/410,826] was granted by the patent office on 2018-07-10 for windscreen wiper device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Federal-Mogul S.A.. The grantee listed for this patent is Xavier Boland. Invention is credited to Xavier Boland.
United States Patent |
10,017,161 |
Boland |
July 10, 2018 |
Windscreen wiper device
Abstract
A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, particularly
for automobiles, includes an elastic, elongated carrier element, as
well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can
be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped. The wiper
blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal
sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the
carrier element are disposed. A connecting device for an
oscillating arm is connected to at least one longitudinal strip by
at least one pin cooperating with a hole provided in the
longitudinal strip. The pin; is movable from a first position,
wherein the pin in a pre-mounted position is fixed to the
connecting device, into a second position, wherein the pin in a
mounted position as a single constructional element is
interconnecting the connecting device and the longitudinal
strip.
Inventors: |
Boland; Xavier (Arlon,
BE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Boland; Xavier |
Arlon |
N/A |
BE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Federal-Mogul S.A. (Arlon,
BE)
|
Family
ID: |
46384386 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/410,826 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2012 |
PCT
Filed: |
June 26, 2012 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP2012/062286 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
February 19, 2015 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2014/000768 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
January 03, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150197216 A1 |
Jul 16, 2015 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60S
1/3858 (20130101); B60S 1/3868 (20130101); B60S
1/3879 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60S
1/38 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;15/250.32 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10043426 |
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Mar 2002 |
|
DE |
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10043427 |
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Mar 2002 |
|
DE |
|
10058208 |
|
Jun 2009 |
|
DE |
|
102009045672 |
|
Apr 2011 |
|
DE |
|
20070114455 |
|
Dec 2007 |
|
KR |
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WO2010/016000 |
|
Feb 2010 |
|
WO |
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WO2011/161619 |
|
Dec 2011 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
DE10043426A1 (machine translation), 2002. cited by examiner .
DE10058208B4 (machine translation), 2002. cited by
examiner.
|
Primary Examiner: Horton; Andrew A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Stearns; Robert L. Dickinson
Wright, PLLC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, comprising an
elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper
blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with
a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing
longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves
spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are
disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting
device for an oscillating arm, wherein said connecting device is
connected to at least one longitudinal strip by at least one pin
cooperating with a corresponding at least one hole provided in said
at least one longitudinal strip, wherein said pin is movable from a
first position, wherein said pin in a pre-mounted position is fixed
to said connecting device, into a second position, wherein said pin
in a mounted position as a single constructional element is
interconnecting said connecting device and said longitudinal strip;
wherein said connecting device comprises a guiding channel for
guiding said pin from said first position into said second
position; and wherein said connecting device has a substantially
U-shaped cross-section, wherein free end of legs of said U-shaped
cross-section extend inwardly so as to form grooves for receiving
said longitudinal strips, and wherein said free ends are each
provided with a corresponding said guiding channel for guiding said
pin, two pairs of opposite pins; and wherein said at least one hole
comprises two pairs of correspondingly shaped holes in said
longitudinal strips; and wherein said pins and said holes are
misaligned in order to allow sides of said pins to abut against
walls of corresponding holes to avoid lateral movement of said
longitudinal strips.
2. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said
pin can be pressed from said first position into said second
position.
3. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein in
said first position said pin and said connecting device are made in
one piece.
4. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said
guiding channel extends in a direction at least substantially
perpendicular to the windscreen to be wiped.
5. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said
pin in said pre-mounted position is fixed to said connecting device
near an end of said guiding channel facing towards the windscreen
to be wiped.
6. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said
connecting device is connected to the longitudinal strips by said
two pairs of opposite pins cooperating with said correspondingly
shaped holes in said longitudinal strips and interconnecting said
connecting device and said longitudinal strips near outer ends of
said connecting device.
7. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said
at least one hole has a closed circumference.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper device of the
flat blade type, particularly for automobiles, comprising an
elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper
blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with
a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing
longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves
spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are
disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting
device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm can be
pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis
near one end thereof.
2. Related Art
Such a windscreen wiper device is generally known. This prior art
windscreen wiper device is designed as a so-called "flat blade" or
"yokeless blade", wherein no use is made of several yokes pivotally
connected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade is biassed by
the carrier element, as a result of which it exhibits a specific
curvature. The spoiler is also called an "air deflector".
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an improved windscreen
wiper device.
In order to accomplish that objective, a windscreen wiper device of
the type referred to in the introduction is characterized according
to the invention in that the connecting device is connected to at
least one longitudinal strip by at least one pin cooperating with a
hole provided in the longitudinal strip, wherein the pin is movable
from a first position, wherein the pin in a pre-mounted position is
fixed to the connecting device, into a second position, wherein the
pin in a mounted position as a single constructional element is
interconnecting the connecting device and the longitudinal strip.
Preferably, the pin is slidable from the first position into the
second position. In the second position, the pin extends through
the hole in the longitudinal strip, thus interconnecting the
connecting device and the longitudinal strip.
In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in
accordance with the invention the pin can be pressed from the first
position into the second position.
In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device
according to the invention in the first position the pin and the
connecting device are made in one piece. Preferably, this is done
manually.
In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in
accordance with the invention the connecting device comprises a
guiding channel for guiding the pin from the first position into
the second position. Preferably, the guiding channel extends in a
direction at least substantially perpendicular to the windscreen to
be wiped.
In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device
according to the invention the pin in a pre-mounted position is
fixed to the connecting device near an end of the guiding channel
facing towards a windscreen to be wiped.
In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in
accordance with the invention the connecting device has a
substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein free ends of legs of
the U-shaped cross-section extend inwardly so as to form grooves
for receiving longitudinal sides of the wiper blade, wherein the
free ends are provided with the guiding channels for guiding the
pin.
In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device
according to the invention the connecting device is connected to
the longitudinal strips by two pairs of opposite pins cooperating
with correspondingly shaped holes in the longitudinal strips.
Particularly, the connecting device is connected to the
longitudinal strips by two pairs of opposite pins cooperating with
correspondingly shaped holes in the longitudinal strips and
interconnecting the connecting device and the longitudinal strips
near the outer ends of the connecting device.
Preferably, the pins and the holes in the longitudinal strips are
(slightly) misaligned, so as to ensure that a sidewall of each pin
abuts against a wall of a corresponding hole, particularly at a
location facing towards a corresponding leg of the U-shaped
cross-section of the connecting device. Lateral play of the strips
is thus avoided, as they are pressed against the legs.
The hole(s) preferably has/have a closed circumference. The hole(s)
is/are preferably stamped in the longitudinal strip(s).
Preferably, the connecting device is pivotally connected the
oscillating arm without the interposition of a joint part. In the
alternative, a interposed joint part is used, wherein the joint
part is detachably connected to the connecting device by engaging
protrusions of the connecting device, at the location of the pivot
axis, in recesses provided in the joint part. This is preferably
realized through a snapping or clipping operation. Particularly,
the joint part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section
at the location of its connection to the connecting device, wherein
the joint part is provided with a recess provided coaxially with
the pivot axis. In particular, the protrusions extend outwards on
either side of the connecting device and are preferably cylindrical
in shape. In the alternative, the protrusions are spherical or
frusto-conical in shape. The protrusions that function as bearing
surfaces are thus paced far apart, so that forces exerted thereon
will be relatively low. In yet another preferred variant the joint
part is provided with co-axial through holes in legs of the
U-shaped cross-section thereof, wherein a pivot pin is inserted in
the through holes.
The above-mentioned protrusions are preferably provided with
co-axial through holes. Accordingly, the wiper blade may then be
connected to the oscillating arm on the basis of a so-called
"sidelock system". The oscillating arm is provided with a joint pin
or a pivot pin to be inserted in the co-axial through holes. The
pivot pin protrudes in a direction towards the wiper blade and has
a pivot axis extending in a direction of the oscillating movement
of the oscillating arm. In the alternative, the joint part
comprises at least one resilient tongue engaging in a
correspondingly shaped hole provided in a base of a U-shaped
cross-section of the oscillating arm, and wherein the resilient
tongue is rotatable along a hinge axis between an outward position
retaining the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm and an inward
position releasing the wiper blade from the oscillating arm.
Accordingly, the wiper blade may then be connected to the
oscillating arm on the basis of a so-called "toplock system" on the
basis of a bayonet connection. In order to connect the wiper blade
onto the oscillating arm, the resilient tongue is initially pushed
in against a spring force--as if it were a push button--and then
allowed to spring back into the hole provided in the oscillating
arm, thus snapping, that is clipping the resilient tongue into the
hole. By subsequently pushing in again the resilient tongue against
the spring force, the wiper blade may be released from the
oscillating arm.
It is noted that in the invention use is made of a mounting head
fixed for rotation to a shaft, wherein the shaft is rotatable
alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense
carrying the mounting head into rotation. Thus, in turn the
mounting head draws the connecting device into rotation and thereby
moves the wiper blade. In the alternative, the mounting head is
fixed for translation to a carriage, wherein the carriage can be
translated alternately in a one linear direction and in another
counter linear direction carrying the mounting head into
translation. The present invention can therefore be used for
circular or linear movement of the mounting head.
THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be explained more in detail with reference
to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a
windscreen wiper device according to the invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are several perspective, schematic views of a
connecting device, as used in a windscreen wiper device of FIG. 1,
further elucidating the working principle of the mutual fixation of
the connecting device and the longitudinal strips;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the connecting device of
FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively;
FIG. 6 is a schematic, perspective view of the longitudinal strips,
as used in a windscreen wiper device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 shows a detail of the longitudinal strips shown in FIG. 6;
and
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the longitudinal strips of FIG. 7 in
mounted position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a preferred variant of a
windscreen wiper device 1 according to the invention. The
windscreen wiper device 1 is built up of an elastomeric wiper blade
2 comprising opposing longitudinal grooves 3 on its longitudinal
sides, wherein spaced-apart longitudinal strips 4 made of spring
band steel are fitted in the longitudinal grooves 3 (see FIGS. 4
and 5). The strips 4 form a flexible carrier element for the rubber
wiper blade 2, as it were, which is thus biassed in a curved
position (the curvature in operative position being that of a
windscreen to be wiped). The windscreen wiper device 1 is
furthermore built up of a connecting device 5 of plastic or metal
for connecting an oscillating wiper arm thereto (not shown),
without the interposition of a joint part. The oscillating wiper
arm is pivotally connected to the connecting device 5 about a pivot
axis near one end. The preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 according to
the invention comprises a two-piece spoiler or "air deflector" 6
which is detachably connected to the strips or flexors 4 and which
extends along the entire length thereof. Connecting pieces or end
caps are connected to the wiper blade 2 on both ends thereof.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, but fully understood by a skilled
person, the oscillating arm is connected to a mounting head fixed
for rotation to a shaft driven by a small motor. In use, the shaft
rotates alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense
carrying the mounting head into rotation also, which in turn draws
the oscillating arm into rotation and by means of the connecting
device 5 moves the wiper blade 2.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show in perspective several views of a connecting
device 5 used in the windscreen wiper device 1 of FIG. 1. As
mentioned earlier, this connecting device 5 has a more or less
U-shaped cross-section with legs 8. Free ends 9 of the legs 8 of
the U-shaped cross-section extend inwardly so as to form grooves or
slits 10 for receiving the longitudinal strips 4. Walls 11 of the
connecting device 5 parallel to the free ends 9 are provided with
through holes 12 for receiving free ends of pins 13, as will be
further explained hereunder. The connecting device 5 further
comprises an interior space 14 functioning as a water channel
extending in longitudinal direction of the connecting device 5.
During use the water channel 14 transports rain water therethrough.
In other words, in use rain water is carried away from a first side
of the connecting device 5 facing away from the free end of the
oscillating arm to a second side of the connecting device 5 facing
towards the free end of the oscillating arm. As a result of the
oscillatory movement of the oscillating arm, in practice an over
pressure relative to the environment exists at the location of the
first side of the connecting device 5, while an under pressure
relative to the environment is present at the location of the
second side of the connecting device 5. Due to the over pressure
and the under pressure rain water is "automatically" pressed
through the water channel.
The longitudinal strips 4, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, are each
provided with two through holes 15 cooperating with the
corresponding pins 13. The holes 15 are made through a stamping
operation in order to accurately control the shape of the holes 15
having a closed circumference.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the pins 13 are movable from a
first position (FIGS. 2 and 4), wherein the pins 13 in a
pre-mounted position are fixed to the connecting device 5, into a
second position (FIGS. 3 and 5), wherein the pins 13 in a mounted
position as single constructional elements are interconnecting the
connecting device 5 and the longitudinal strips 4. The pins 13 can
be pressed manually from the first position into the second
position. In the first position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 the pins 13
and the connecting device 5 are made in one piece. With reference
to FIGS. 4 and 5 the connecting device 5 comprises guiding channels
16 for guiding each pin 13 from the first position into the second
position. As depicted, each guiding channel 16 extends in a
direction perpendicular to the windscreen to be wiped. In the
pre-mounted position the pins 13 are fixed to the connecting device
5 near an end of the guiding channel 16 (FIG. 4). In the mounted
position the pins 13 extend inside a corresponding guiding channel
16 and through a corresponding hole 15 of a respective longitudinal
strip 4.
As shown in FIG. 8, the pins 13 and the holes 15 in the
longitudinal strips 4 are slightly misaligned, so as to ensure that
a side wall of each pin 13 abuts a wall of a corresponding hole 15
at a location 17 facing towards a corresponding leg 8 of the
connecting device 5. Thus, the longitudinal strips 4 are pressed
against the legs 8 of the connecting device 5 in order to avoid
lateral play of the longitudinal strips 4.
The invention is not restricted to the variants shown in the
drawing, but it also extends to other preferred embodiments that
fall within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *